Piano-loading apparatus.



J. D. LINDSLEY.

PIANO LOADING APPARATUE. APPLIoAT1oN'1IBD JAN. 22, 1912.. RENEWBD AUG. 4,1913.

L'jlQjL., Patented. June 30, 19141.

2 SHEETS-SEEE?! 1.

witnesses.

J. D. T .INDSLEYVA PIANQ`- LOADING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, e1912. RENEWED AUG. 4, 1913. i 16440 Patented June 30,1914.

2 SHBETSMSHEET 2.

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Speccation of Letterslatent.

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Application A.tiled January 22, 1912,' Serialplo. 672,780. Renewed August 4, 19,13. Serial No. 782,931.

.To all 'whom t may concern 13e .it known that I, JOHN D. LINnsLsY, Aa

^ citizen of the United States of America., re-

.a single person.

.siding at Kansas City, in the .county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Loading A paratus; .and I do herea by declare that the ollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The invention has for its object: First the loading and unloading of movables o great weight, such as pianos and organs, with the expenditure of minimum power by Second, a traveling ,elevating support for the piano, requiring a minimum degree of power to lift the piano for transportation.

The invention consists in the novel .construction and combination of parts, such as will be fully described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure l. is .a view, in perspective, of a transfer truck, having a low bed for moving heavy objects, showing the load binding lifting jacks upon the truck, the piano being shown indotted lines, also showing the skid andelevator, the skid being in an elevated position. Fig. 2. is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, taken through the platform or .bed of the truck, t-he skid and elevator, theposition of the skid and its load before being raised by the elevator being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3. is a transverse, sectional view of the platform or 4bed of the truck, taken on the line a", ,.c, on Fig. 2. Fig. Jf. is a view, in perspective, of the forward end portion of the skid. Fig. 5. is a view, in perspective, of

- one of the piano elevating jacks, taken from the outer side of\the jack. Fig. 6. is a front view ofA the low-er, outer side-portion of the jack, as seen in Fig. 5. Fig. 7. is a view, in l perspective, ofcthe lower, inner side-por-` tion of the jack, showing the piano-lifting lugs. Fig. 8. is a vertical, sectional viewof the lower portion of the jack, takenfon-'the line of Fig. 6. Fig. 9. is a det-ail'yiew of the locking device for the lower end of one of the brace rods on the bed of the truck, showing a portion of the bed. Fig. 10. is a view, in perspective, of the wheel blocking device for the jacks upon the plat-form or Referring to .the drawin s, 15 indicates a four-wheeled platform vehicle or truck for the movlng of objects or articles of considerable lengthsu'ch as pianos and similar musical instruments, whose weight is to'be overcome and over which care is to be exerc lsed, to prevent injury to the instrument in transit. lthe truck consists of a platform 16extend1ng horizontally the len h of the vehicle, and of the requisite wi th. The forward axle 17 of the truck, is supported .by the wheels 18and upon lsaid axle is a swivel b ar 19, upon the outer ends of which is inoitntedthe respective elliptic springs 20 (see Fig. -3 A l22 indicates suspension bars connected at Itheir lowerends with the longitudinal outer surfaces ofthe platform l16 and extended in an upward direction, and thence bent at.

right angles and extended in an outward direction and secured to the upper leaves of the respect-ive elliptic springs at 23. The rear ax e 24 is supported by the wheels 25, and upon said axle adjacent the said wheels are mounted the blocks 26 (see Fig. 2), to which blocks are secured the respective elliptic springs 2,7. 28 indicates suspension bars for the rear end of platform 16 which are precisely the same as the bars 22, the upwardly and outwardly bent pc rtions of said bars being secured to the upper leaves of the elliptic springs 27. Upon these bars 22 and .28 is supported the platform 16, of the truck, its position being below the lines of the upper leavesof the elliptic springs, and at the same time a considerable distance above the pla-ne of the respective axles 17 and 24. At the forward endof the platform is shown a dash board 29. A short distance in rear of the dashrboard is a seat 30, its side supports 31 extending downwardly to and integral with the platform 16, in a vertical line with the outer longitudinal portions of .said platform.

Extending transversely through the rear portions of the side supports 3l, to seat 30, a short distance upwardly from the lower ends of said supports is a windlass shaft 32, upon the. outer, squared end of which shaft, on the right hand side of the truck, adjaportions of t ie supports 3 1, to the seat 30.

the platform 16, 38, respectively,

. right-hand side of the platform 16,1and se cured rigidly thereto in These rails are located at short distances inwardly from the line of the longitudinalA outer surfaces of platform 16. Near the ends of the rail 36 on the left-hand side of are the standards 37 and secured rigidly at their lower ends to the platformV 16, and extending upwardly in line with the outer, vertical surface of said rail. To the upper ends of said standards is connected rigidly the respective ends of a connecting-bar 39, the standards `and bar forming a frame of the desired height-'to support the piano when loaded upon the truck. Upon the ends of the horizontal bar 39 are suitable sleeves 39", secured adjustably in positionby the set screw 39." This sleeve carries astaple 39, and a spring plate 39", (see'Fig. 11).

40 is a brace bar extending from the forwardend of bar 39, on standard 37, to the the right-hand side Vof the guide rail 36, uponsaidfs'ide of the platforni;A L

41 indicates a movable rod connected pivotally at its upper end to an eye 42, on the rear end of'bar 39. The lower end of rod 41 is bent at right angles at 43, and to said. bent portion is pivotally connected at 44, a turnbutton 45. The bent portion 43 and button 45 is inserted within a staple 46, on the right-hand side of platform 16, and the right-hand side of truck rail 36, on said side the button 45, when turned as seen in dotte lines in Fig. 9, retaining the bent end ofI said' rod within the staple. Upon the lower sur'- face of the latform 16, upon a vertical line extending tlirough the platform 16 and the track rails 36, are secured the upper ends of the semi-circular plates or hangers 47, the curved `portions offthe` hangers being inwardly as respects each other. Upon the upper surfaces Aof thdower ends of these oppositely-positioned hangers, which are in series spaced apart the requisite distance, are track bars 48, extending in the longitudinal direction ofthe platform 16. Upon said lower surface of platform 16, in line transversely with the forward ends of the track rails 36, is secured a block 49, to the lower surface of which block is secured the forward end of a spring-catchplate 50, having a barbed rear end orhook 50x.

i arcieri 51 indicates the skid, which consists Vof parallel angle bars 52, of the proper length to afford an easy, inclined lane from the ground to the bed of the truc r, and as shown are trussed at 52X. The vertically-positioned portion of the angle bars 52 constitute the guide rails, and are of aheight proportional to the height of Guide rails 36, on the platform 16 and a like distance apart. Transverse connecting bars 53 are connected at their respective ends with the lower, horizontal portions of the angle bars, the forward bar 53 being positioned a short distance in rear of the forward ends of the angle bars; The ends of this bar 53 are extended upwardly on the outer surfaces of the angle bars a short distance, as seen in Fig. 4, and ,then bent at right angles and extended outwardly a short distance thence bent downwardly to form a U-shaped lug 54. Upon the transverse bar 53, on the rear ends of the angle bars, are similarly formed lugs 54. To the lower surfaces and forward ends of the angle bars 52 are secured the hinge eye plates 55, and on* the lower surface and rear end of platform 16 are eye plates 56,

beneath each track rail, seen in Fig. 2, within which, adjacent to the eye plates 55, transversely through the eye plates 55\and 56, is a rod 57, which secures the skid temporarily tothe platform 16. To the forward, lower, horizontal portions of the angle bars 52, of the skid, are secured the eye-bolts 58. These bolts are bent from-beneath the angle bars upwardly, ast the free end of said bars, the eye extending upwardly for engagement with an elevating device 60. This device consists of standards 61, having outwardlyextended flanges 62, attheir lower ends. A.

horizontal bar 63 is provided with transverse portions or arms 64, vnear the outer ends of said bar, and to which bars at the point of intersection of bars 64, the flanges 62, on the standards 61, are connected. These bars and standards form a movable frame extending in height slightly above the plane ofthe platform 16, of the truck. Upon the upper ends of the frame 60 is a windlass, composed of a transverse rotary shaft 65, journaled in the upp'er ends of standards 61, upon the outer, squared end of which shaft, adjacent to the outer surface of the standard 61, is a ratchet wheel 66, and upon the standard 61 is a lug 67, and upon said lug is a pawl 68, engaging with the teeth of ratchet wheel 66. With the shaft 65 is connected the inner ends of separate winding and skid elevating ropes 69 and 70, wound upon shaft 65, the outer ends of said ropes being provided with hooks 71. A brace bar 72 extends from one standard 61 to the other standard 61, beneath the shaft 65, the ends of the bar being forked at 73, anl said forked ends secured to the standar s.

mondes 711 indicates the lifting jack for raising the piano and enabling the piano to be moved' upon lthe skid to the truck. The jack consists of upright standards 75, to the innery surface and lower ends of which standards said upper ends of the standards, directly above the plate 76, is secured the ends of a plate 77. To the inner face portions of the plates '76 and 77 on the right-hand side of the jack, are secured the plates 78, which extend from the outer ends of plates 76 and 77 inwardly to a point intermediate the ends orn the respective plates, and are beveled at 79. These plates are intended for taking up the space at the ends of the pianos which are dra inwardly adjacent the keyboard, when the jacks are applied to the ends of the piano. 'lio the outer surface of the lower plate 7 6, adjacent the standards '75, are secured the dat plates 86, upon the lower ends of which plates are slotted shaft hangers or bearings 81 (see Fi 8), `extending a oonsiderable distance line of the lower edge od? the plate 76, and

in which bearings is a rotary shaft or axle 82, and upon the ends of which shaft directly beneath the standards `7 5, are roll ers 83. i l

83X are notches in the lower ends ofy standards 7 5, at outer ends of the plates 76 and 78, to adrnlt the rollers 82 and permit the lower edge of plate 76 to come closely in position to the floor.

84 are fulcrum plates, perforated at 85, at their lower ends to admit loosely the shaft 82, these fulcrum plates being located adj acent to and a short distance inwardly from the respective plates 80, carrying the slotted hangers or bearings 81.

Two levers, 86 and 87, composed of angle bars, are pivoted at 88, at their outer ends to the respective standards 75, upon a line horizontal with the upper edge of the plate 76, andwith the vertical angle of which hars i the upper ends of the fulcrum plates 84: are 7 50 pivotally connected at 84 (see Fig. 6). The

inner ends of the angle bars 86 and 87 ex tend inwardly and overlap each other. ln the lever bar 86 is a slot 89, and in 'the bar 87 is a pin 90, movable in slot 89. Upon the outer face of plate 76 immediately behind the lever bars 86 and 87 and the slotted ortion 89, is a spring hook or catch 91, w lich engages with the upper surface of the lever bar 86, when both bars are in the same hori- Zontal plane. Upon the lower, inner surface of the plate 76 are short angle plates or lugs 92, the lower angle of the plate or lug extending horizontally from the line of the lower edge of said plate (see Fig. 7).

93 is a grasping rod, secured at its ends ownwardly below the within the iishaped clamps 94, to the outer surfaces or the standards 75, a short distance downwardly from the upper ends of said standards, and below a line horizontal with the lower edge of plate 17, its oce being to enable the piano to be shifted to the right or left.

95 is a hook secured to the outer surface of the lower plate 76, near its lower edge, and 96 is a hook on plate 77, on the lefthand side of the jack, and 96X is a double hook secured to the same side of plate 77 intermediate the ends thereof. "Upon the outer` surface and upper end of standard 75 is pivoted a hook 77". This hook engages with the staple 39, on the sliding sleeve 3W, on har 39, when the jack is mounted on the truck and makes a firm connection of the jack with the frame, these devices being at both ends of the frame.

97 indicates a chock for the wheels 88, of the jack 74, and consists of a bar 98, to the lower surface and .ends of which are secured the blocks 99, having inclined forward ends 100 (see Fig. 10). To the lower surface of the 'bar 98, intermediate the blocks.99,'is secured e. block 101, through which extends an opening 102, transverse to the bar 98.

`ln the opening 102 is a hook 163, having a screwthrmded stem 10e, upon which stern is a thumb nut 105. With the rotary shaft 32, of the windlass, beneath the seat 30, at the forward end of the truck, is connected one end of a traction-impartin rope or cable 166, of the desired length, w ich is wound upon said shaft 32, and its vfree end extended through a pulley 107, connected with the up er surface of the platform. 16, beneath sha 't 32, the cable being adapted to be extended in length the full length of the truck and skid, and upon said free end of the cable is a loop 108. Upon the upper surface of the platform 16, a short distance in rear of the supports 31 for the seat 30, is a transverse iixed block 109, the rear surface being inclined at 110, said bar acting as a chock to them piano or like object in its forward position on the platform. l f

ln the operation of loading the truck with the piano, the skidi 51 is connected with the "I the outer ends of the skid 51, one of the jacks l 74 is placed in position with the inner surfaces of plates 76 and 77, close in contact with the one end of the piano, and the grasping lugs 92 extended beneath the lower surfaces of one end of the piano, in which posi- 'mail tion of the jack the'lever bars 86 and 87 are freed from the catch 91 and in an elevated position as seen in Fig. 6. Downward pressure being applied to the lever 86, the shaft 82 carrying the rollers 83, which is on the upper portion of the slotted bearing 81, moves downwardly to the lower portion of the bearing, and when the lever bars reach the position seen in Fig. 5, the spring catch 91 secures the lever arms. In this movementv of the lever arms the end of the piano provided with the jack is elevated in position, and its weight at said end is borne by the rollers 83. At the other end of the piano is placed another jack 74, in precisely the same manner, and operated to raise the said end and support the same upon the rollers 83, of the companion jack. Straps 74O are assed lengthwise the piano in front, and their ends made fast to the double hooks 96X, on the respective jacks, and a strap 7 4X passed in rear of the piano and its ends also connected with the double hooks 96X. Another strap is extended over the top surface of the piano and its ends connected with the hooks 96, on the respective jacks, as seen at 96, in Fig. 1, these straps being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Still another strap 97x is passed around both jacks and the piano'just above the plate 76. The hook 108, on the free end of the traction cable 106, is passed beneath the piano and engaged with the hook 95, on the plate 76 of the jack, upon the outer end of the piano. The rollers 83, upon the jack on the inner end of the piano, are then placed on the skid and between the guide rails formed by the vertical portions of angle bars 52. The crank 34, on the windlass shaft 32 is then operated to wind the cable on said shaft, and with the exercise of the power transmitted through the cable the piano is moved upon the skid and into the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 2. A movable elevating frame 60 is then placed adjacent Ito the outer ends of the skid 51, and the hooks 71, on the elevating ropes 69 and 70, are engaged with the eye bolts 5 8, on the outer ends of the angle bars of tli'e skid. The weight of the piano now being vheld by the rope or cable 106, on the skid, and the pawl 35 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 33, the crank 34 is now removed from the end of the shaft 32 and placed upon the squared end of the elevating shaft 65, on the elevator frame 60, and power applied through said shaft to wind the ropes 69 and 70, thereby raising the outer end of the skid 51 with the piano as its load comes into a horizontal position as seen in Fig. 1. The ratchet wheels 66, on shaft 65, being held by the pawls 68, the crank 34 is detached from shaft 65, and placed upon the shaft 32, and the winding movement on the cable 106 continued movingthe piano upon the platform 16, of the truck, the wheels 83 passing between the guide rails 36. This movement is continued until the wheels 83 on the jack, on the forward end of the piano, come into contact with the chock block 109, on the platform 16.

The chock is placed in position adjacent to the wheels 83, on the jack, on the outer end of the piano, the inclined blocks 100 preventing a rear movement of the wheels. The hook 103 on the chock block is now engaged with the eye bolt 103x, on the rear end of bed 16 of the truck, thereby holding the truck and piano firmly to the bed. Upon turning of the nut 105 on the hook 103, the draw is made on the chock with sufficient power to cause the blocks 100 to be forced against and bend the rollers 83, and thus prevent any longitudinal movement of the piano on the truck. The rod 41, which has been moved aside to permit the movement of the piano, is then engaged with the staple 46, on the platform 16, as before. The hook 77 on the truck frame is then engaged with the staple 39 on the sliding sleeve 39, the spring 39X engaging with the hook to prevent withdrawal from the staple. The elevator frame 74 is now moved from the outer end of the skid, and the rod 57 removed from the end of the platform, releasing the eye plates 55, on the forward end of the skid. The end of the skid is now placed upon a line with the lower surface of the platform 16, and the lugs 54 placed on the track rails 48, on the hangers 'rear strap upon the piano may be extended past the standards 37 and 38. The suspension of the platform 16, upon the elliptic spring affords ample protection from shocks occasioned by ruts or obstacles in the road, and affords a resiliency in any swayingmovement occasioned by uneven roads.

The invention affords means for moving other objects besides pianos, of like adaptability, to be handled and held by the jacks, such as boxes of large size and of such weight as to cause ditliculty in hauling, and which usually requires a number of persons to successfully move.

My invention enables one person to move a piano from one point to another and place it in position, whenever needed, without any aid but that of the apparatus, and this alone is economy in the cost ofvremoval of such instruments, as well as expediting such removal as has been practically demonstrated fao in a complete apparatus. In unloading the truck of its piano or other object, the operation as heretofore described is reversed, the skid being raised first, at its outer end, and the weight lowered to the ground, the delivery being accomplishedy with safety and the necessary expedition.

Such modifications of the invention may be employed as are within the scope of the appended claims. y

Having fully described my invention, what I now Claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Ina truck, the combination with the platform, of hangers upon the lower surface thereof, oppositely-positioned skidsupport ing track bars carried by the hangers, a skid, and lugs carried by the skid movablynengaged with and supporting the skid on the track bars.

2. In a truck for carrying loads, the combination-with the platform of the truck, of hangers on-the lower surface thereof, o positely-positioned skid` carrying track ars supported by the said hangers, a skid, and lugs on the skid movable upon and supporting the skid on the track bars, and a catch on the truck for holding the skid from longitudinal movement.

3. In a truck for carrying loads, the combination with the platform of the truck, of

hangers on the lower surface thereof, oppositely-positioned skid-supporting track bars supported by said hangers, and a block connected with the lower surface and forward end portion of the said platform, and a spring-plate on the said block having a barbed rear end portion.

4. In a truck for carrying loads, the com binationwith the platform of a truck, of a windlass, a cable operated by the windlass a transport for the load on the platform, an

wheels supporting the transport, a transversely-positioned chock-carrying bar in rear of the transport, and chock blocks cai1d ried by said bar, and an adjustable securing vmeans on the chockfcarrying bar connected l with the bed of said truck. f

`and a detachable rod pivotally connected with the frame, and a'staple on the platform, said rod having a bent end portion engaging with the staple, and a turn button on said bent end portion ofthe rod.

7. In a piano '-wagon, the combination with an upright frame on'the wagon and a horizontal bar forming a partof said frame, of a movable sleeve on said bar, and a staple onsaid sleeve, a piano truck, and a hook on said truck engaging with said staple..

8. In a iano wagon, the combination with an upright frame on the wagon, and a horizontal bar on said frame, of a staple en said sleeve, and a sprin plate beneath the staple, a piano truck, an a hookthereon engaging with the staple on the horizontal bar and adapted to be retained by said spring plate, i v QIGIIN D. LLINBSLEYL Witnesses:

JOHN I-I. Gams, ANNI@ L. GRn-aa,

said bar, and an adjusting 

